As anyone who has ever changed jobs knows, sometimes we inherit certain aspects of the job that we might not be so excited about being responsible for. When I came back to Powell as the AIG teacher, it was the role of coaching the Science Olympiad team that I was worried about. I had no real reason for these feelings, other than the fact that I myself had never participated in Science Olympiad as a student and I knew nothing about it. However, I decided I would make the most of the situation and attend the coach's institute so I would at least know what to expect.

My goodness, am I ever glad I attended!!! Science Olympiad is AWESOME! As described by the directors, it's a track meet for science events. It all suddenly fell into place! I understood exactly what it would look like, because without that description, I would still be trying to make heads or tails of it.

I mean really, my job is going to be to help guide kids engineering a bridge out of pasta that can actually hold a certain amount of weight? No, no, my job is going to be to help kids engineering a vessel for an egg throw? Wait, it's going to be teaching students how to decipher evidence at a crime scene? Of course, my job is going to be collecting samples of local trees and bushes and helping students correctly analyze them? Or could it be teaching students how to effectively communicate non-verbally? WHOA!!! It's all of that and more? I guess it's time to add science nerd to my nerd badges, because man alive, I am psyched!!!

Third, fourth, and fifth grade students, Science Olympiad is going to be an elective third quarter... although, my wheels are already turning on what we will be doing! Our competition isn't until May, so there's plenty of time for you to get excited too!!!